James “Jimmy” Brooks
BROOKS, 68
James “Jimmy” Boyd Brooks, died on April 2, 2020. Jimmy was born on February 3, 1952 to Leora and J.B. Brooks in South Texas.
In Jimmy’s early years, his father J.B. owned Brooks Motor Company in downtown Pearsall and ran a booming farm close to Divot where Jimmy and his siblings Sibyl Brooks (Howsley) of Austin and Ronnie Brooks (deceased) would help and play.
In school, Jimmy was an astute learner and avid athlete excelling at quarterbacking the football team, pitching for the baseball team, playing tennis, and competing in high jump during track season. Jimmy met his wife Suzanne in school and the two became high school sweethearts. Jimmy graduated Pearsall High School in 1970 and began his journey to Austin to study at The University of Texas and gain a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management in 1974.
In the summertime, Jimmy could be found bailing hay on the family’s ranch and passing time pitching on a baseball league or racing cars on the back roads. Post graduation, Jimmy assumed greater responsibilities at Brooks Motor Company and the family ranch and facilitated a big move for the family business from downtown Pearsall to the corner of IH-35 where the location can be found today.
Jimmy and Suzanne married in 1976. The couple welcomed their first child Kelly Brooks in 1980 and their second child Jamie Brooks in 1984.
Jimmy coached Little League and utilized every opportunity to teach not only his children but the neighborhood kids how to fish at the coast or learn to drive at the ranch.
As a community servant, Jimmy ran Brooks Motors and provided mechanic services for everything from cars and trucks to tractors and hunting outfits. Meticulously honest, logical, and pragmatic, Jimmy was often the resource everyone could go to in town to ask questions about buying vehicles even if the person was not intending to be a customer. Jimmy earned the trust of the community and received multiple “Leaders of Distinction” awards from GMC for providing services for over 50+ years and awards from Massey Ferguson for 25+ years of service to the farming community. Brooks Motors also participated in the Automotive Service Education Program with St. Phillips College.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Hurley Funeral Home, Pearsall.
